Nursing and Midwifery Council Inducts 137 Nurses from Bingham University

Bingham University's 137 graduate nurses have been inducted into the nursing profession by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) at its 5th Induction Ceremony, with a charge to uphold ethics, competence and lifelong learning.

The ceremony was jointly organised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Bingham University, and drew University management, Council officials, parents, professional associations and well-wishers.

The Registrar of the NMCN, Dr. Ndagi Alhassan, represented by Nr. Umar Gambo, charged the newly qualified nurses to uphold professional ethics and commit to continuous learning.

Dr. Alhassan congratulated the inductees for successfully completing the Bachelor of Nursing Sciences (BNSc) programme and commended lecturers, parents and guardians for their academic, moral and financial support throughout the training.

He described the BNSc as a highly standardised programme designed to produce polyvalent graduate nurses equipped with scientific knowledge, clinical skills and professional intelligence to render safe and efficient healthcare services in diverse settings.

The Registrar disclosed that the Council is finalising a Central Internship Placement System for ND-HND/BNSc nurses nationwide, which will provide a database of accredited facilities, available vacancies, remuneration packages and postings. Pending its conclusion, he advised training institutions to absorb their own graduates.

He urged the inductees to pursue advanced professional and higher academic qualifications, noting that Nigerian nurses are excelling globally, and admonished them to remain steadfast to their oath with humility, empathy and honesty.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Kuje Ayuba, described the induction as a transition from student life to professional practice and the beginning of a career devoted to caring for others.

Prof. Ayuba appreciated the Registrar of NMCN and his team for their partnership and commitment to maintaining high standards in nursing and midwifery education and practice. He commended the Head of Department, Nurse Barry Afoi, and all members of the Nursing Department for their dedication, sacrifice, teaching, mentoring and support.

He assured the Department that Management remains firmly committed to the continued development of the nursing programme, with investments targeted at strengthening teaching, learning, research and accreditation readiness.

Addressing the inductees, he said competence should be their foundation, compassion their guide and integrity their constant companion, urging them to treat every patient with dignity and respect, communicate clearly, protect confidentiality and never stop learning.

The Guest Lecturer, Dr. Andy Emmanuel, Senior Lecturer and Campus Academic Lead at the Institute of Health and Management (IHM) Australia, delivered a paper titled From Induction to Action: Equipping Newly Qualified Nurses with Competence, Confidence, and Readiness to Save Lives in Emergencies.

Dr. Emmanuel warned that new graduate nurses may leave the profession within the first year, often citing transition stress, and noted that patient deterioration is usually signalled by abnormal observations well before cardiac arrest or ICU transfer.

He described the first year as characterised by transition shock, initial task focus with high anxiety, growing skill and questioning with fatigue and doubt, and eventual separation and recovery into a stable professional identity. He outlined national expectations including measurement and documentation of vital signs, escalation of care, rapid response systems and communicating for safety.

In his goodwill message, the National President of the University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA), Nr. Ojo Opeyemi, represented by Nr. Comr. Esson Anthony, described nursing as more than a profession but a covenant of compassion, expertise and unwavering commitment.

He congratulated the inductees on the culmination of five years of dedication, resilience and hard work and charged them to always place patient interest and welfare above all else.

Formally enlisting the 137 inductees as bona fide members of UGONSA, he urged them to carry the banner of the association high.

Highlights included administration of the professional oath by the representative of the Registrar, Nr. Umar Gambo, and presentation of awards to distinguished graduands. Cynthia Nneoma Fedrick emerged as Overall Best Graduating Student with 4.81 CGPA.